Catch a Tartar

The biter bit. Grose says an Irish soldier in the Imperial
service, in a battle against the Turks, shouted to his comrade that he
had caught a Tartar. “Bring him along, then,” said his mate. “But he
won't come,” cried Paddy. “Then come along yourself,” said his comrade.
“Arrah!” replied Paddy, “I wish I could, but he won't let me.”

“We are like the man who boasted of having caught a Tartar, when the
fact was that the Tartar had caught him.” —Cautions for the Times.